He went out, he was tired and bad tempered. The meeting had been extended eternally without finding viable agreements. He decided to keep in a safe place the files with privileged infomation, perhaps he will be able to take profit of them in other oportunity. Now it seemed rather difficult with Esplugues and Ducrós in the Council Board. They were not reliable and they could give more than a false step under the minimum pressure. In the other hand he was also worried by some ciphers that somebody tried to change from their place. While he stepped down to the garage he felt an added restlessness. He asked himself what  could it be. When he was opening his automobile’s door, an imported car of which he felt extremely proud, he remembered it suddenly. Shit! I had forgotten Sara. Today it is her birthday. – He said to himself, while he was leaving the garage- he was so eager to get home and now, you see, where could I find an opened store?, - he continued whispering to himself -. He got out by the garage door, that which gave exit to the pedestrian street. Some shops were still opened because they had already extended their work schedule to anticipate the sales - like every year around the Christmas campaign-. He got in a perfume shop. Still they took care of the last clients. The shelves of metacrylate changed their colour according to the direction where he glanced, they were transformed by the reflections of the perfume packages arranged in an anarchical and luxurious exposure.

    He doubted between the cosmetic section or the one of perfumes. The quiet employee watched him without a single gesture of annoy that could be noticed. She was very tired and she wanted to leave already, those clients of last moment with aspect of executives did not use to be tired or they didn’t seem to be in a hurry. They never use to make up their minds for anything and that was a nuisance.

    The employee watched him while she was thinking that she didn’t mind a nut if it was for his wife or for his lover woman or man, friend, or dog. She only needed that he makes his mind soon; her feet ached and her youngest child was with a fever.

    - It is her birthday, you know. It wanted to impress her.

-  Well, let’s see. Could you describe me the tap, the bottle, or even the colour......

- I do not know.

- Does she use any perfume?

- Heavens! I don’t know. But if you give me the best one she will surely like it.

- The best one? – she said with a smile that seemed malicious, but it was nothing but mortal fatigue-, the best one it is that what oneself prefers.

- Then, give the most expensive, that will please her.

    She watched him while he was leaving the store, she hoped that they allow her to leave already, she had been almost twelve hours on foot. Those previous Christmas days she entered at half past nine in the and left at half pas nine in the evening. Twelve hours exactly. With thirty minutes in the morning to have a coffee break or eat something and forty five minutes to have lunch at noon.   ( page 1)

© Emília V. Talens. Reproduction is forbidden without author's permision. I also apologize for any error in the translation, as I am not a native born English speaker, nor a profesional translator. In any case as I am the author I asume the mistakes.